Shloka 54
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
तदनन्तर चर्ममय आवरणोंसे युक्त पाँच सौ रथ घर्घराहटकी आवाज फैलाते हुए चारों ओरसे भीमसेनपर चढ़ आये और बाणसमूहोंद्वारा उन्हें घायल करने लगे ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
tad-anantaraṁ carma-maya-āvaraṇaiḥ yuktaḥ pañca-śataṁ rathāḥ ghargharāhaṭa-śabdaṁ vistārayan sarvataḥ bhīmasenam abhyadravan bāṇa-samūhaiś ca taṁ vyathayan |
tān sa pañca-śatān vīrān sa-patāka-dhvajāyudhān |
poṭhayāmāsa gadayā bhīmo viṣṇur ivāsurān ||
三阇耶说道：其后，五百乘战车皆覆以皮革与甲胄之护，从四面八方轰然奔涌而来，以箭雨齐发，令毗摩塞那遍体受创。然而毗摩挥动巨槌，将那五百名乘车勇士连同旗帜、旌幡与兵刃一并击碎，正如毗湿奴摧灭阿修罗一般。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under assault: even when surrounded and wounded, a warrior must hold firm to duty and protect his side. The comparison to Viṣṇu’s destruction of Asuras frames Bhīma’s force as a righteous, order-restoring power within the epic’s moral universe, while also reminding the reader of the terrible cost and intensity of dharma-yuddha.
A coordinated Kaurava force—five hundred chariots with protective coverings—charges Bhīma from all directions and showers him with arrows. Bhīma counters at close quarters, using his mace to crush the chariots and their warriors, breaking their banners and weapons, and annihilating the entire contingent.